The program run by the Education Ministry is scheduled to end this year but it is unclear when the amendment needed to the Education Act for changing the level-based structure of the schools will take place. The SSRP envisages adopting changes in the three current levels in school – primary, lower secondary and secondary – into 'Primary Level' from grade 1-8 and 'Secondary Level' from grade 8-12. It also looks to increase extension of the cost-free compulsory basic education and its guarantee.If the eighth amendment bill to the Education Act 2028 is passed by the Parliament, the existing standard test of School Leaving Certificate (SLC) held in Grade 10 will be shifted to Grade 12. The Higher Secondary Education Board structure will dissolve into the Education Department with the formation of a single Examination Board as per the Integrated Secondary Education Policy.
The UCPN (Maoist) among other political parties had lent their critical support to the government's initiative for SSRP citing it was adopted without adequate discussion and prioritizing the donor agencies. The implementation of the program faced hurdles as it failed to address teachers' job security and remained vague on private sector schools. As the government too proved weak in addressing the foregoing dispute the amendment to the Education Act remained in a state of quandary.
The scale of support from the donor agencies is on a decline as compared to the initial years of the start of SSRP, which was brought to support the international goal of 'Education for All'. The gradual lapse in the support of the donor agencies is a result of the government's failure to give the program a legal backing.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian Aid, Denmark, DFID, the European Union, Finland, Norway, UNICEF and World Bank are what is called the 'pooling' partners under the joint financial provision for the program, whereas Japan, UNESCO, USAID, World Food Program and other non-governmental organizations are the 'non-pooling' partners.
The five-year program with a budget of US $ 2 billion 620.2 million which spans all educational program including salaries to the teachers will see an additional investment of US $ 1 billion 580.1 million. The donor agencies have invested 20 per cent of the total amount for the program.
Under the SSRP, soft skill development program is also being run from Grade 9 as an alternative technical and vocational education, but due to the absence of the legal framework students opting for the new program do not have a clear road map for pursuing higher education.
Educationist Dr Bidyanath Koirala said with no amendment nothing will happen in the structural change at the school level while stressing that the government must focus on ensuring higher education to the students seeking technical and vocational education, and collaborate with the local bodies to broaden the access to education.
The government ran formal programmes across the country including model tests in the districts of Rasuwa, Kapilvastu and Dadeldhura by endorsing the SSRP on 20 August 2009. The programme has also prepared strategies for reforming the initiative mounted for institutionalizing accountability and responsibility during execution of the tasks at hand including upgrading the quality of education. It also envisages securing assurances for opportunities for children by bringing all the children outside the schools within the bounds of education.
Reviews are being held in the programme for conducting primary classes and child development programmes in backward areas and running scholarship courses through one-door system with primary focus on indigent lot. The donor agencies have underlined the need to run programmes by targeting marginalized and differently-able children while prioritizing works pertaining to governmental data processing and preparing objective report.
The education sector has seen a string of programmes, exercises and planning. For sake of rural development multiple programmes as Education Project, Primary Education Project, Basic and Primary Education Project 1st and 2nd, Primary Education Development Project, Secondary Education Development Project, Education for All, Teacher Training Project, Population Education Project, Secondary Education Support Programme, Community School Support Programme, Education for Food preceded the SSRP. Skill development programmes, and professional education and training enhancement projects are still continuing for employment.
Education Ministry's Spokesperson Dr Hari Lamsal said the amendment bill for the Education Act was pending at the Finance and Law Ministries and would be tabled in the parliament after due consultations. The programme has made considerable progress in ushering in reform in the schools despite the lack of legal recognition.
The admission rate in the primary level has increased to 95.6 per cent while progress has been recorded in gender equality.
Baburam Thapa of the Nepal Teachers Federation Presidium complained the government had not consulted with them over the up to date progress and new programmes launched for reformation of the schools.
The government is also preparing for the post-SSRP programme with a draft of 'Nepal School Sector Reform Development Plan (2072-2076 BS)' for the next five years. The government is holding thematic and technical discussion with the donor agencies in this regard. A steering committee has been formed under the coordination of Education Secretary Bishwo Prakash Pandit and a technical committee headed by Planning Division Joint Secretary Dr Lavdev Awasthi to formulate the draft of the new programme. It also constitutes representatives of the donor agencies and educationists.
The committees will evaluate the current curriculum and the school text books and plan for teacher management and professional development, school re-structuring, investment and good governance in schools and public financial management, institutional capacity and decentralization, said Joint Secretary Dr Awasthi. The proposal of the planning and project will then be sent to the Global Partnership for Education's Funding Program.
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